Proposed bill would help homeowners in gated communities

More than half — 64 percent — of homes in Pike County are inside private homeowner association developments, according to county and U.S. Census data.

More than half — 64 percent — of homes in Pike County are inside private homeowner association developments, according to county and U.S. Census data.

Except for the fact that there are no grocery stores or gas stations inside, these developments are like cloistered little towns, each with its own personality and elected boards of directors.

Anyone owning land inside one of thee communities pays an annual fee, similar to a tax.

A board is elected to determine how much to charge in fees, and how the collected fees will be spent.

Boards choose whether to spend the money on road maintenance, recreational amenities, such as pools and tennis courts, security or other services.

Jar your car on an epic pothole in a community and you may assume the board is not focusing on roads.

To know for sure, if you are a member of the association, you could go to the office and ask for records detailing how long it has been since Moon Crater Lane has been paved.

Suppose the office would not give you the information, though?

Some folks have gone to court to get records that have been denied to them.

You could do that too.

But then association fees are used in a legal battle, and you are funding both sides of the fight.

Newly introduced Pennsylvania House Bill 319 aims to give property owners better access to the records in their associations by requiring all association records, with a few exceptions, be accessible for inspection and duplication by owners.

"With alarming frequency, people come to me with frustrations about getting access to association records," said Rep. Mike Carroll, D-118.

Carroll is a co-sponsor of the bill, which has been introduced several times before, but has never had enough traction to get to the floor for discussion.

"Hopefully this year it will," Carroll said. "If you are a member, you have a right to know what is happening with the money or any records related to the association."

That is common sense.

So why hasn't this bill moved forward in previous sessions?

If you have ever hit a roadblock getting records from a homeowners association, tell me about it.